Van Jones on AI, disruption and inclusion

01/03/24 • 56 min

What would it look like to build coalitions to disrupt poverty, pollution, and the prison system? This week’s guest received a $100 million grant to do just that. Van Jones is a CNN host, New-York-Times-bestselling author, and the co-founder of multiple social enterprises to address issues of criminal justice, climate change, and social equity. Aria and Reid spoke with Van about what it will take to rethink our social systems and build fair, balanced coalitions for change. How can we disrupt the profit-driven prison system? How can underserved communities better contribute their talent and resources? And how can we change our news, media, and even sci-fi comic books to reflect a better future?

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

04:35 - Hellos, intros, and Van’s comic book ideas

09:00 - Make Wakanda Real and plans for change

12:12 - How to build a coalition for change

17:15 - How to build trust with vulnerable people

20:31 - Bringing people with power and purpose together

21:15 - Using the Bezos grant to disrupt poverty and the prison industry

27:29 - How organizations like Codepath make change

31:09 - What does addressing climate change look like

37:07 - What is the role of media for change

40:00 - How might AI change media?

42:41 - How to address political division

48:55 - Rapidfire questions

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future.

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our executive producer and editor. Special thanks to Katie Sanders, Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, Rae Steward, Gus Alexander, Andi Lichtenfeld, Belicia Montgomery, Kalia Lydgate, Didier Morais, Chantel Muentes, Felicia Shand, and Little Monster Media Company.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

04:35 - Hellos, intros, and Van’s comic book ideas

09:00 - Make Wakanda Real and plans for change

12:12 - How to build a coalition for change

17:15 - How to build trust with vulnerable people

20:31 - Bringing people with power and purpose together

21:15 - Using the Bezos grant to disrupt poverty and the prison industry

27:29 - How organizations like Codepath make change

31:09 - What does addressing climate change look like

37:07 - What is the role of media for change

40:00 - How might AI change media?

42:41 - How to address political division

48:55 - Rapidfire questions

Previous Episode

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins on the future of social welfare

What does it look like to build true access with technology? Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO and co-founder of Promise, is creating that reality. She sat down with Reid and Aria to discuss how her company is revolutionizing the way people receive welfare in its client states. By leveraging data, questioning preconceived assumptions, and focusing on eliminating bias, Promise has become a model for socially conscious business. This people-first mindset runs so deep that Promise employees personally call clients to apologize for mistakes. Phaedra also uses her high-level view of social systems and business to consider how AI could close access gaps and improve life for the most marginalized.

Read the Atlantic article referenced by Phaedra here.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

06:24 - Hellos, intros, and a story about Prince

08:41 - How Promise resonated with investors

11:40 - What makes applying for welfare so hard?

13:54 - How Promise uses data for social good

15:40 - Why we should talk about bail reform

17:28 - Why there’s more money in enforcement than welfare

19:27 - How to work toward the ideal welfare system with technology

21:11 - Is Promise considering AI in the context of welfare reform?

25:48 - Pi weighs in on Black maternal healthcare inequity

27:03 - How can we center empathy and address bias in technology design?

33:33 - What AI companies can do to create products for more people

36:22 - How to get people onboard the movement: the Prince secret

38:36 - How to build more companies like Promise

40:25 - Rapidfire questions

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our Executive Producer and Editor. Special thanks to Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, Pure Dalisay, Melanie Jones, and Little Monster Media Company.

Next Episode

Sal Khan on the future of K-12 education

What if every learner on the planet had access to a world-class education? This week’s guest has an impressive track record of using technology to make that dream a reality. Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, an education nonprofit whose pioneering digital tools support K-12 students everywhere, along with parents, teachers, and school districts. In this episode, Sal discusses how technology widens access to education and creates more meaningful learning experiences. He also shares his experience helping train Chat-GPT and speaks to why, 15 years after launching Khan Academy, he has decided to go all in on AI.

Plus, a special guest joins the podcast to demo Khan Academy’s new AI chatbot tutor, Khanmigo.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

5:26 - Hellos and intros

7:51 - What has changed in education technology in the past 15 years

13:24 - Khan Academy’s new AI guide, Khanmigo

18:59 - Khanmigo demonstration

21:37 - How teachers can incorporate AI into their classrooms

29:15 - AI in the classroom in North Ward, Newark, NJ

33:13 - How to make remote learning engaging

37:01 - How education technology in the U.S. compares to other countries

42:43 - How the use of AI in the classroom will expand in the future

47:28 - Rapidfire questions

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our executive Producer and editor. Special thanks to Katie Sanders, Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, Stacey Olson, and Little Monster Media Company.